Founded in 1701, by French fur traders, Detroit has the eighth largest population in America. Detroit’s metropolitan area consists of six counties, Lapeer, Oakland, Livingston, Macomb, St. Clair and Wayne. Located in the American Midwest, Detroit is a prominent port city.

The city got its name from French officer Antoine de la Mothe Cadillac. Cadillac founded a fort and settlement called Fort Pontchartrain du Détroit. He named it after the minister of marine under Louis XIV. In 1760, Fort Detroit fell into the hands of the British, who shortened the name later that same year after conquering the settlement.

During the 19th Century, Detroit, which means by or near the strait, spent 42 years as Michigan’s capital. In 1847, the capital was relocated to Lansing, and it remains there today. Before the outbreak of the Civil War, Detroit served as a gateway into Canada for slaves escaping via the Underground Railroad.

Once known as “The Paris of the West” because of its architecture, Detroit enjoyed steady growth, from the 1830s onward, thanks to increased industry. The architectural industry that took hold in 1896 was the automobile industry. The success of the carriage industry gave Henry Ford an inspiration. He started creating his first car in a rented workshop, and by 1904, the Model T was born. A recent college graduate with a penchant for cars might want to relocate to Detroit.

Detroit weather is heavily influenced by its proximity to the Great Lakes. Winters are typically cold, though subzero temperatures are rare. The snowfall is moderate, averaging about 1 to 10 inches per month. Detroit summers tend to be hot and very humid with heavy rainfalls.

Like most other major American cities, Detroit has theater and opera; however, the city’s blues scene inspired icon, John Lee Hooker, to stay a while. The 1950s brought jazz to Detroit, and the 1960s brought Barry Gordy, Jr. and Motown Records. Rock also found a home in Detroit; the city is considered to be the birthplace of techno.

There are many things for college students and recent college graduates to see and to do in Detroit, but education and employment are important, too. Below are some of the Detroit metropolitan areas most prominent colleges and universities:

*Wayne State University – is Detroit’s largest with a 2005 fall undergraduate enrollment of over 20,000. The university’s most popular majors are Elementary Education and Teaching, Nursing – Registered Nurse Training (RN, ASN, BSN, MSN), and Psychology.

*University of Detroit Mercy – journalism and business major, Ronald Reeves, says this small university is “challenging but you learn a lot.” The university with the great faculty has these as its most popular majors: Health Professions, Business/Marketing and Law.

*College for Creative Studies – said to be one of the top schools for art and design education, this institution’s most popular majors are Commercial and Advertising Art, Film/Video and Photographic Arts, and Industrial Design.

*Marygrove College – the most popular majors at this cozy college are Business/Commerce, Computer and Information Sciences, and Social Work.

Those are Detroit’s four largest colleges and universities. Many of the city’s institutions are two-year schools offering associates degrees and certificates, while others are affiliated with larger Michigan colleges or universities. They are as follows:

Byrons School of Floral Arts
Center for Humanistic Studies
Detroit Health Department Nutrition Division
Ecumenical Theological Seminary
JTPA School of Practical Nursing
Lewis College of Business
Michigan Paralegal Institute
Payne-Pulliam School of Trade and Commerce
SJ Williams School of Religion
Sacred Heart Major Seminary
Ser Business and Technical Institute
State College of Beauty

Those are only some of the smaller post-secondary schools in the Detroit metropolitan area. There are also schools that offer training in radiology, security and medical laboratory procedures. A student looking for a quality education might be able to find just what he needs in Detroit.

Motown isn’t just a great place to learn. College students seeking internships and recent college graduates looking for entry level employment may like what the following Detroit major employers have to offer:

American Axle & Manufacturing (AAM) – this global company boasts that it is a world leader in the “design, engineering and manufacture of driveline systems and chassis systems, among other things. A recent college graduate can find employment or a college student can find and internship or co-operative education opportunity in engineering, metallurgy, health and safety management, and medical services coordination.

Comerica – the financial services institution offers entry level jobs and internships in finance and accounting, lending, information technology, management and operations.

Compuware – a “recognized industry leader in software and IT services, this company provides entry level jobs and internship opportunities in development, quality assurance, management and accounting.

Electronic Data Systems – this founder of the information technology outsourcing industry offers “hot jobs” in human resources, corporate operations, technical delivery, service delivery and insurance.

Ford Motor Company – by implementing the use of the moving assembly line, this automotive manufacturer revolutionized car manufacturing. Recent college graduates looking for entry level employment can find it in engineering, human resources, product development, accounting, operations and manufacturing.

Other major employers make their home in Detroit. Pizza lovers will like knowing that Little Ceasar’s pizza chain has its headquarters in Detroit. Visteon, Ersnst & Young and Delphi also have offices in Detroit. The “Motor City” has many opportunities and activities for recent college graduates seeking entry level employment and students seeking colleges or internships. It has sports teams, culture and beauty. Detroit: It’s not just for car making any more.

*Statistics courtesy of US Census Bureau - Census 2000.
Source: http://www.detroitmi.gov